Woman and child stranded on flying fox, netizens question safety
The video showed the mother and child suspended 30 metres above the ground while being rescued by park staff.
SHAH ALAM - A terrifying incident occurred at Taman Tasik Shah Alam when a woman and her child were stranded on a flying fox activity for nearly 15 minutes.
A video of the rescue operation went viral on social media, prompting concerns about the safety of such activities, especially for young children.
The video showed the mother and child suspended 30 metres above the ground while being rescued by park staff.
Despite the frightening situation, the victims were unharmed.
In an interview, the mother, identified as Amalina, admitted to feeling anxious but remained calm to avoid panicking.
While this was her first such experience, she said her familiarity with extreme activities helped her manage the situation.
"The situation was already bad, but if you panic, you don't know what could happen next, so it's important to stay calm.
"This was my first experience facing such a situation, but since I’m used to extreme activities, it didn’t feel that overwhelming," she said.
Following the incident, social media users expressed concerns about the safety of the flying fox activity for children.
Some suggested that authorities should investigate the mother for exposing her child to potential harm, citing the Children's Act 2001.
"Since when can young children be involved in such dangerous activities? The authorities should investigate this mother.
"According to Section 31(1)(a) of the Children’s Act 2001, anyone who exposes a child to situations that may cause physical or emotional harm can be fined up to RM20,000 or imprisoned for up to 10 years, or both," commented James Brune Mans.
Another social media user, Ramsya Akram, also disagreed with the mother's decision to involve her child in the activity due to the risk involved.
"This is endangering the child's life, even if the mother is an extreme sports enthusiast.
"Mothers should think twice before involving their children. If a fatal incident occurs, then only will the activity be stopped.
"Soon someone will say, 'Auntie, just stay home quietly,'" she commented on the Mingguan Wanita Facebook page.
Sinar has reached out to the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) for comments on safety measures and regulations regarding children's participation in extreme activities.
